How to get a hook up at Guitar Center

[Kevmove]

I wasn't sure where to put this, but I thought most people who would be interested in this would be in the bass section. If you are gassing for a new bass, but don't have the cash, here is a way to get that bass pretty quickly.

Step 1: find out who has an instrument molding away in the closet. When my relatives found out that I was learning to play bass, a couple offered me their instruments that were collecting dust in the closet. I got 3 instruments this way.

Step2: Trade them in at Guitar Center during a Trade In, Trade Up sale. Yeah, I know I could sell them on Ebay or Craig's list for more money, but it was easier to just get the extra store credit and apply it the purchase of my dream bass.

Step3: Make some big purchases, get a gift card. After buying a couple of instruments at Guitar Center, I started getting $25 gift cards from them for being a valued customer. I know this might sound a bit shady, but I started offering to go buy stuff for other people, then get the cash from them after the sale. Of course, I didn't mention the gift card.

Step 4: Get your gear! Doing the steps above, I traded in 2 instruments during a Trade In, Trade Up sale, then paid the difference with a "good customer" gift card.

This could probably work anyplace where they take trade ins. If you happen to live in an area where there are lots of garage sales, you could get all kinds of gear that you could flip for credit. Say you buy a guitar for $15 and get $75 on a trade in, that's $60 towards a new piece of equipment.

[Johnny Alien]

This seems like alot of work and not a way to get a quick purchase at all.

I rarely see anything that GC will give me $60 trade in for selling for $15 anywhere. Most people want $70 for a $100 Squier that GC would give me $40 for.

Getting the gift cards sounds like a whole lot of work for little payback.

It's cool that it works for you though!

[Let It Fall]

id be totally doing this.......


If I were 13

[Yerf Dog]

Or there's that whole 'get a job' thing.

[Bardley]

This is kinda like the "Get $10 off if you spend $200 in our store today" philosophy.

[LowWay]

exactly. Yopu need to have way more time than money. And that time has to have little value.

For the enterprising kid though, it is probably as good as pay can get.

[stflbn]

You're also not taking into account gas money and time going around to garage sales finding instruments.

[txmulletrocker]

you lost me at "make some big purchases"

[Mr. Mig]

Seems like you have to spend alot to get back a few bucks. Doesn't seem worth it.

[Johnny Alien]

I am still hung up on the $15 instrument thing. In order to get $75 out of GC they would need to think that they could sell it for over $150 used. So it needs to at least be a Squier or Epiphone in decent shape. I have never seen anyone sell anything like that for $15.

Old beat to crap Kays, Harmonys and First Acts are probably the cheap stuff I would find at a yard sale and they would probably still want at least $25.

[Surly]

It's hard to get deals at GC. They're not in business to be nice and the salespeople are hurting these days.

[YCBass]

If relatives or friends are kind enough to offer me an instrument to start playing I would try to keep it out of respect... And when 2 others come along I would say, "Thank you but I already got one from so and so."

If anything those people deserve the money you got for their basses. I assume they gave those to you to learn and not to sell.

Just my 2 cents.

[Febs]

Originally Posted by Kevmove

If you are gassing for a new bass, but don't have the cash, here is a way to get that bass pretty quickly.

Step3: Make some big purchases, get a gift card.

So, the way to get a bass quickly if you don't have the cash is to make big purchases?

[mister-o]

Originally Posted by YCBass

If relatives or friends are kind enough to offer me an instrument to start playing I would try to keep it out of respect... And when 2 others come along I would say, "Thank you but I already got one from so and so."

If anything those people deserve the money you got for their basses. I assume they gave those to you to learn and not to sell.

+1!

My uncle was kind enough to give me his old Yamaha fretless bass when he found out I was learning, which I played for a while before moving up to a higher quality instrument. I considered it still his property, so I got it back to him in the same condition in which he lent it. If he had then told me to keep it, I probably would have sold it. I was grateful for the opportunity to play it.

[FromTheBassMent]

Originally Posted by Johnny Alien

Old beat to crap Kays, Harmonys and First Acts are probably the cheap stuff I would find at a yard sale and they would probably still want at least $25.

And for these, GC will give you $0.00.

[dpbass613]

i'm curious as to what rotting away instruments are hiding in closets...a guitar teacher who doubled on bass told me once he did an attic clean out for a neighbor, and found a 69 j bass and i think a 72 p bass...stripped to all hell but the wood was still in good shape and the neck was straight...so watch out for what you think you are getting a good deal on...one of those instruments if it was a bass may be worth more than what you traded for...case in point...you paid the difference with a $25.00 gift card...being someone who used to work at a music store where we took in trades, this is how it pretty much works...the store is going to sell the traded instrument at 70 to 75 % of what they go for new. So a $1000.00 instrument will sell for $700.00 at best you are getting 50% of that figure, so you walk with $350.00...but just lost a $1000.00 instrument, or $1000.00 worth of gear if it was multiple items. So not the best plan in the book that I have seen. The only thing that has ever benefitted me for GC sales coupons is if they give the 20% off between 300-500 and i actually have to buy something in that price range...or you could spend decent money with one salesperson and be loyal to them, make sure its like an assistant manager who has some discount authority and buy and trade with them everytime...most importantly do you research and know what you have, know what its worth, and expect only to get 50% of what you could sell if for on your own.

Best deal i have ever gotten: bought a modulus genesis from one store for $1200.00 a month later traded it in for $1300.00 at GC. You can actually find it at the Manchester CT, GC selling for 2k, great bass...has a nordstrand preamp in it that sucks batterys like crazy.

[Valerus]

Failthread?

[superbassman2000]

people still go to guitar center?

[Darkstrike]

Originally Posted by Valerus

Failthread?

Very.

[jmattbassplaya]

If you want a deal just say you`ll pay in cash. You can usually get the tax taken off and about 5-10% extra also taken off.